Compound engine



P. VAN VLEGK AND H. COOPER.

COMPOUND ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28| 1920.

1,385,028. Patented .my 19, 1921.

3 SSSSSSSSSS ET-2.

i Embrun;

P. VAN VLECK AND H. COOPER.

-COMPOUND ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1920.

Patented July 19, 1921..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- kio \ oFFlcE.

rnrnonvAN vLncKiANn HOWARD coornn-orfnenrrrronn, MARYLAND, nssrenons 'ro WILLIAM n. rnrncn,orsarfrrnonn, MARYLAND. i i

assenze. y

To aZZwwm t mayconccmr. y

Be it known that we, Prinzen VAN Vinson andHowAnn Coornncitiaens or' the United States, residing *atv altiinor'efcity, in the State o'lf Maryland, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Compound Engines, of which the following isfa speciiication.

This invention relates to enginesand more particularly to double acting cross compound expansion type. l i

The 'objects o't `the invention are :e First, to constructan engine of the general class indicated, in which all valve gear is eliminated and the valvedistributing the iiuid pressure on 4either sidevorthe high and low pressure pistonsis actuatedby the same 'fluid recipr'ocatingthe" pistonaw.

Second, toconstruct and arrange the `valve distributingfthe fluid pressurecwith vrespect to the chest andits relations to the high and low pressure cylinders, so that no lstuiiing bores or glands are necessary Ji'or the elements connecting orfcontrolling said valve with the movements of the pistons.

rifhird, to construct and arrange portsin the vdistributing lvalve and 'c'lhestin which said valve reciprocates andoscigllates, so that the motive iiuid reciprocating the valve is efficiently and positively/controlled, there by insuring the constant and uniform operation vor the inotoror engine.

Fourth, to so `construct and arrange the high and low v pressure cylinders 'with ja head inclosing the 'chest and Valve.r with cooperating ports, so that the engine can be cheaply manufactured and all the parts are reac'iilvaccessible easilvandfquickl asence characters indicate lsenibrled or talren apart' andinspected or repaired with auninimuni of cost and `time without breaking any actuating fiuidf'connections'. y i j Firth, other advantages and objects of the ini'fention" will appear from the 'detailed description of Vthe i construction andY operation ol the invention tobe hereinafter given. The invention consists orstructuralcharacteristics and relative arrangements orelements which will 4be hereinafter 'more fully described and particularlypointed `out in the appended claims. 1^ Y 1 i in the drawings, -in which'sirnilar referthe ksame parts in the 'seveial-liigures, f-

for `the return stroke.

' l y f l oonronnn nnsrnnl f Specicaticn,ofLettersrecent.` Patentedduly19,1921. Iapprlettini; ined' september 2s, iee'afseriai ivo. 4,113,254.

ig. 2 is'asection Online III-1I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isasection on line 1111-111 or' Fig. 1; f

AWittig; i isasectionfon line live-1V or Figi; l y' Y i A l Fis 5 1S e Section Online iL-v of rig. i; Fig.` 6 is a sectionfon line"V1V1 of Fig. fr" is a section on line VIL-V11 of Figi; j

Fig. 8 is a section online VBL-V111 of Figfl;A 'y y' g Fig'. 9 is a section on iine lX--IX of Fig. 1; y n Y Fig. 10 is a section on line X--X of Fig. l1;'l 1 '1.

FigI 11 isa section on` Kline" `X11-Xl of liigl; Y

Eig. 12 isa section online X11-XII of la and Fig. 14 is a section similar to Fig. 1, showing ,the 'position `of valve and'pstons Referring tothe drawings, '10`isfthe high pressure cylinder and l1 the low pressure cylinder'V having recipr'ocating therein respectively, double acting pistons 12 and 13. Piston 12 -isconnected to a tubular piston vrod 14 passing through a stuiiing box 15 while the low pressure piston 13 is provided with a rod 16 passingthrough a stuiiing box 17, said rods 141 land limay be'cone ne'cted to any suitable pump, compressor or other mechanical expedient, not shown, and forming no part or the present invention, to which the power or the motorv is to be applied. .i v 1 rllhe 'head 18 extending over the upper ends of the high andlow pressure vcylinders 1Oand 11 is so cored, constructed `and arranged as'to form a chest '19 in which is provided a combined oscillatory and reciprocatory.distribution `piston valve `2() having end cylindrical sections 21 and 22,. a central section 23, and smaller cylindrical sections 21,22 and 23,.as shown, said chest l19 being provided lwiththe usual liner26,

Asections `2and-25 arranged between saidhead 18 for present invention.` VIn the head 18 are cored a series of ports 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33 and 34 below thefchest -19Vand ports' 35V above the chest 19` as shown.V "Porte 29-has branch ports 36, 37, 38 and 39 which communicate 'with the interior of the chest 19 kby-rneans'- of openings 40, 41,42 and 43 respectively,VA

whileV port 33lis`-providedwth branch ports 44, 45 and 46 which communicateY with theA interior of chest 19 byY means of openings 47 48,-and 49..V .POIDS 3.0., 31,32 and 33 communicate with the `chest' respectively by openings; 50, 51, 52 andVv 53, andport 34 Vconin'ninicates withthe` interior ofthe chest by opening54 andwith the upper port 35 Aby a `branch port 55. f Port 35: communicates with the opposite ends of thechest '19 byfmeans 'ciY openings 56 and 57,; :Port 30 connects @directly withone end of the. high pressure cylinder 10, while port V33" con 1 nects in aV like manner withv theupper end of the low pressure cylinder 11. 56, 57, V58

`and59jare portsfcastin the high and low pressurecylinders and connect respectively withthe ports, 29, 31,l 32; and, 34 in Vthe purposes toY be presently described.

60 and 61 are by-pass ports or grooves at theends ofthe low pressure cylinder. to.

permity the motive fluid pressure to pass around the'. piston 13V whenthe-.Esame overtravels said grooves.

The end cylindrical section21 of the distribution valve 2O isl provided with two short longitudinal and lperipheral ports 62"4 and `'.63` which are adapted to connect'oneend of the chest 19 respectively. with'the opening 40 of porty29and opening 5,6,-of port35, while the Yports 64 and 65;i n theI other end cylindrical section 22 ofvalve 2Qlconnect the other end ofthe chest 19, respectively with the openings 43 and 57 'communicating with -theports 39. and 35, as willbereadily seen fromthe drawings. y. i Passing through, the cylindrical section 21 of the valve 19with a tight fit is Vapin :66, the .outer end of which is suitably threaded, Vwhile .its'vother or inner end is adapted to be firmly seated ina socket 67 formedin thel cylindrical section 24V of valve`20, said pin 66 being slidably and looselyconnected .to the `upper end ,of Va rod 68 passingwith considerable clearance through the port 30,

as shown; Thevother end 69 .of the rod` 68 fis adapted to pass Within the hollow section of the highpressurepiston rod 14. and its lowerrendf69and enlarged upper end 70 are engagedbythe under .and upper sides respectively, of the tappet plate '.71 secured to the .upper :side of high pressure piston 12, during the reciprocation `of said piston 12,v -for the purpose or.` oscillating the valve 20 and thereby :properly admit the live motive fluid'or pressure to either end of the-.chest 19 orexhaust the entrapped'motive fluid therefromto reciprocate said valve for purposes to be presently described.

lows: Y A

The parts being in the position as shown in Fig. 1 the live motor fluid enters the port 56" and is Vconveyed by Way of the port 29, branch port 38, opening v42 into the .chest between the. cylindrical sections 23, 24, of the valvef'20 Vand passes through the opening 56 into the ports31, 57, to the underside ofthe high pressure piston 12, and driving it lui'iwarril as shown bythe arrow. During this just described operation, the live motive fluid Vwhich had expanded during the v downward movementofthe high pressure piston and wascontainedinthe high pressure cylinder 10 Vabove its piston 12, is passingout through port 30 and around the enlarged end 70 at the upper endof piston rod 68 through the opening 50, into the chest. 19 between the Acylindrical sections v21, 24, of valve 20 throughthe opening 47 yinto branch port 44 and port 33 through branch-4631.161 opening 49 intoV chest 19 be* tween cylindrical sections 22,125, through opening 53 i nto.p irt33V to the upper side of the -lowpressure piston 13, whereby the intermediate pressure is; applied to saidl low ,pressure .piston and' drives 'the ysame in a downward-direction@ indicated by .the a1'n row,` andthe previously expanded intermediate motiveffluid Ain the cylinder 11 on the underside of. thefpistonv 13 is forced out throughgportsi 58, 32 opening 52into chest 19 betweenl cylindricaL sections 2 3, 25

.through'opening 54 through ports 34 and 59 to the `atn iospl1ere or` any suitable condenser if so desired.-

f As the Vlive motive fluid port 29 has branches36 and39terminating in openings 40 and 43, through `which high pressure can be admitted to the-endsq21 and 2 2 oivalve.V

20 through the-.high pressure groovesv V-or ports 62 and 64, and the final exhaust port 34 through branch port 44 connects with the low pressure port 35 and to the ends 21 and -22 ofthe valve 20 through'ports or grooves 63 and 65, consequently when the high pressure .port 0r groove 62 registers with the opening40fandport 36 while theV low pressure groove or port 65 and its coperating openingV 57 and port 35at the opposite end lofthe valve20a1ein angular alinement, as shown` in Figsl2 and.13,ra pressure differential is effected on the ends 21- and 22 kwhich 'the projection or tappet plate 71 will engage the enlarged upper end 7 0 ofthe valve rod The operation ofthe invention is asifoli rsa-,goza

63 and ,move thefsame upward throughthe port 3() 'and partially rotate, the. valve 2O through thepin connection' 66, as Will "be readily understood.r T his partial rotation of the va-lve'20jreverses the relationship lof the grooves oitpoits 62,36% 63' and 65in the valve 2O and ports 36` '39"and'35 or openings 40, a3, 56 and 57,' so'that the high pressure valve port 64C registers with .port 39 and the live pressure'valve port`63 registersvvith the port 35,' which'permits the motive fluid inthe chest 19 between the Acylindrical section 21 and head 27to pass out through the opening 56, p ort 35, branch port 55, ports 34; and 59 tothe atmosphere. Thisreverses the above referred to'pre'ssure differential and causes'the valve 20 to move to the right as shown in Fig. v14C, the pin 66 sliding through its bearing or opening in the upper and enlarged endand owing to the loivpressure ports orgrooves 63,. 65 being" shorter than the high pressure portsy or grooves 62, 64:, the valve 2Ois'"giveny af cushioning effect to its endvvise travel lbyjthe cutting olf of the low pressure ports or grooves before the valve V'completes its" longitudinal travel'. Furthermore, the high pressure grooves or ports 62, 64;, are' slightly longer than the low pressure ports 63, 65, so that on partial rotation or turning into alinement 1they will permit full opening of their port openings 40 and 43. l Y f After the'valve 20 has been shifted, as just described, to its right hand as shown in Fig. 14; and opposite position vfrom that shown in Fig. 1, the opening 41 and branch port 37 of port 29 yare incommunication ivith the openingO 'and port 30 and hence live motive fluid is capable ofvpassing into the top of high pressure cylinder 1G and vforce the piston 12 downward. The expanded fluid from the underside ofthe piston 12 is then carried throughthe ports 57, 31, opening 51, chest 19, opening 4:7, branch port 44, `port 33, branch port 45, openinglychest 19, opening and ports 32fand 56, tothe underside of the lovv pressure piston 13 and forcing it upward, While the expanded intermediate inotive fluid in the upper end of the low pressure cylinder' 11-` passes out through port 33', opening 53', chest 19, opening 54, ports 3&1 Iand 59 *to* thel'atmosphere `or condenser. lllhenfthe high pressure piston12 reaches the end ofits `downward stroke, the bottoinon'the lower end 69 of the 'valve rod 63 islefnga'ged by theunderside 'of'thetappet Vple-.tei 1 fixed tothe piston 12 andfsaid rod 63 is pulled down vwhich iinturn partially rotates" the valve 20 to its first angularposition, so registering its grooves'orports 62, 64, V63 and 65 as to Iadmitthe live fluid pressure tothe outer endofy the sectionf'21 and force the ,valve to travel baclrto the position shown in llig,l 1 and capable of repeating the cycle of operations just described."` l" vThe groovesor ports 60 and 61 at the ends of the lovv pressure cylinder 11 have the function of ley-passing the expanded motive fluid 'aroundthe piston 13 Whenl said'piston overtravels said: ports 60 'and '61, vthelength of saidvports or grooves 60 and 61 `being slightly greater than the Width of the piston and hence assures a balance or equalizing of pressures on `both sides of the piston and prevents the piston 13 from hitting the cylinder heads or ends in the event that the low pressure piston 13 completes its full stroke before the high pressure piston 12 has completed its stroke.

` 'lt Will be seen that owing to the short length of the ports 63 and 65, the openings 56 or 57 areE cut off sufciently early 'to effect a cushioning of the endvvise travel; or recipro'cation of the valve 20, and thev cushioning ofthe piston 12 is effected byproviding that the movement of the valve 20 be such as to reverse or admit live motive Huid pressure in 'the high pressure cylinder 10 just before said piston 12 reaches the end of its stroke. The valve 20 may also be so arranged to be completely balanced so far as circumferential pressures are Aconcerned by arranging the ports in said valve in equal and opposite pairs and so disposed to communicate With the ports yand openings in the cylinders 'and chest thereby equalizing the pressure at all times on the opposite surface of the valve 2O and insuringit to easily and positively oscillate and reciprocate under all conditions of service.

From the foregoing disclosure of the construction, arrangement, yassembling and mode of operation of the motor, it Will be seen that' all thev objects and advantages recited Ain the statement of invention are fully land efliciently carried' out and while one embodiment of such an arrangement is c herein illustrated and described, itwvill be readily seen that many changes will readily suggest themselves to any oneskilled in the artlwvithout departing from` the structural characteristics and relativearrangement of Y elements covered by the claims.

What We claim is: i

1. `A cross-compound engine comprising a high pressure cylinder, a loWpressure-cylinder,` a piston reciprocating Within each of said high and low pressure cylinders, a live fluid pressure port and an exhaust port,

4ports leadings `to the opposite ends of said high and low pressure cylinders, a chest having a series of openings communicating with the live fluidv pressure and exhaust ports `and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and loiv pressure cylinders, ay combined oscillating and` reciprocating distributing valve Within said chest and having ports so constructed and arranged to coperate with saidvseries of openings communieating Withrthe live fluid pressure and exf4 a Y Y Y 17,385,022?

haustports `and ports/leading ,to v the opposite ends of said high and lowrpressure cylinders toiadmit live' fluid pressure on oppositevsides .of the piston in the high pressurecylinder and-directv the expanded fluid Withinsaidv high pressure cylinder to the .opposite sides of the piston Within: the

j low pressure cylinder and the expanded Ves fluid V,Within the lovvL pressure cylinder to the exhaust port and admit live fiuid'pressure `Within= the chest `and on each end of the distributing valve to lreciprocate the same and exhaust said fluid -ufromlthe chest, and

means'ac'tuated by Vthe reciprocating cf ,a piston `for oscillating said reciprocating distribution valve. ,a f

f2.-` A` Vcross-compound engine comprising a yhigh pressure cylinder, a low pressure cylinder, apiston reciprocating within each of said high and low pressure cylinders, a live uidpressure port and anA exhaust port, ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and, loW pressure cylinders, a chest having a'series of openings communicating Withthe live fluid pressure and exhaust ports and ports leading Vto the opposite ends of said high` and low pressure cylinders, a-

combined oscillating and reciprocating disf tributing valve Within said chest and having ports 'soconstructed andl varranged to cooperate ,with saidseries of openings communicating with thelive fluidpressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and lowrpressure cylinders to admit live'fluid pressure on opposite sides of' Vthe piston in the high pressurefcylinder andrdirect the expanded Huid Within said high pressure cylinder to. ythe opposite sidesof the piston Within the loW pressure cylinder and the y,expanded Huid Within the 10W pressure cylinder to the exhaust port and admit live fluidpressure Within the chest and on each end of the vdistributing valve` to reciprocatev the sameand exhaust said fiuid from the chest, and means actuated by-` theireciprocating of a piston and .freely passing through one of the ports leading into the cylinders for oscillating said valve. i Y Y y 3.Y A cross-compound engine comprising a high pressure cylinder, a low pressure cylinder, 'a piston reciprocating VWithin each ofV said high and low pressure cylinders, a live fiuid pressure;` port` `and an exhaust nport, ports leading tothe opposite ends 'of said high and low pressure cylinders, a chest having a series of openings communicating with -A 'the live Vfluid pressure and Vexhaust ports 60 and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and low pressure cylinders, a combined oscillating and reciprocating V distributing valve Within said chest and having ports soconstructed and arranged to cooperate Withsaid fseriesof openings comreci rocatinfr distributionV municating with the live fluid pressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to theopposite .ends of saidfy high and low pressure cylinders to'V admit; live fluid pressure on QPPQSt Sides Ofi the piston in' .the high pressure cy'flinderV and .direct the, expanded VHuid Within; saidyhi l1 pressure cylinderito the oppositesides o, the piston Withinthe low pressurecylinder and the expanded fluid Within .the lovv l pressure cylinder to the ex-V haust port and admit live fluid pressure Within `thechest and on Veach end cf the distributing valve to reciprocate ,the same and exhaust said, fluid Vfrom n the chest, and a-valve rod actuated bythe reciprocating of a piston and freely passing through rone of the `ports leading'. into. the .cylinders fforV oscillating said V-reciprocating 'a distribution valve.,- 'i u' n. f

4. 1A` cross-compound engine comprisingu a high pressure cy'linderga lofvv pressure cylinder, a pistonreciprocating Within each of said highandlow pressure cylinders, a live fluid pressure .port and an exhaust port, portsleadingto the opposite endsof said yhigh, ,andlow pressure cylinders, a chest having a seriesof openingscommunicating cylinders to admit live fluid pressure` on op@ posite sides ofthepiston in the-highpressure cylinder and direct thevexpanded fluid within said high pressure cylinder to. the

yopposite sides ofthe pistonirwithin the 'loW pressure cylinder andthe expanded fiuid Withinfthe low pressurecylinder to the exhaust port and admit` live fluid pressure VWithin the. chest and on each end of the distributing vvalve to reciprocate the. saine and exhaust said fluid from the chest, -a pin attached to,` the valvevand arranged parallel tothe longitudinal axis offsaidvalve, and

Va valve rod havingI one of its ends Slidingly connected to said pin andcactuated-by the reciprocatingl of a piston for oscillating'said reciprocating distribution valve; u

u 5. A'crossrompound engine comprising a high pressurecylinder, a low pressure cyl# inder, a piston y,reciprocating Within each of said high and lovvpressure ,cylinders, a

`live fiuid pressure port and anexhaust port,

ports'leading to the oppositeends of said high 'and low pressure cylinders, a chest having a series of openings communicating rWithr the live fluidcpressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to'theopposite ends of said high Vand low pressure cylinders, a

ijic

combined oscillating and reciprocating distributing valve Within said chest `and having ports so constructed and arranged to cooperate With said series of openings coinmunicating With the live fluid pressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and lovv pressure cylinders to admit live luid pressure on opposite sides of the piston in the high pressure cylinder and direct the expanded fluid within said high pressure cylinder to the opposite sides of the piston Within the low pressure cylinder and the expanded fluid Within the low pressure cylinder to the exhaust port and admit live fluid pressure Within the chest and on each end of the distributing valve to reciprocate the same and exhaust said fluid from the chest, a pin attached to the valve and arranged parallel and to one side of the longitudinal axis of said valve and a valve rod having one of its ends slidingly connected to said pin and freely passing through one of the ports leading into the cylinders and intermittently actuated by the reciprocating of a piston for oscillating said reciprocating distribution valve.

6. A cross-compound engine comprising a high pressure cylinder, a low pressure cylinder, a piston reciprocating Within each of said high and low pressure cylinders, a live fluid pressure port and an exhaust port, ports leading to the opposite ends-of said high and lovv pressure cylinders, a chest having a series of openings communicating with the live fluid pressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and low pressure cylinders, a single combined oscillating and reciprocating distributing valve Within said chest and having ports so constructed and arranged to coperate lWith said series of openings communicating With the live fluid pressure and exhaust ports and ports leading to the opposite ends of said high and lovv pressure cylinders to admit live fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston in the high pressure cylinder and direct the expandedv iiuid Within said high pressure cylinder to the opposite sides of the piston Within the low pressure cylinder and the expanded Huid Within the low pressure cylinder to the exhaust port and admit live fluid pressure Within the chest and on each end of the distributing valve to reciprocate the same and exhaust said fluid from the chest, a pin attached to the valve and arranged parallel to and to one side of the longitudinal axis of said valve, and a valve rod having one of its ends slidingly connected to said pin and freely passing through one of the ports leading into the high pressure cylinder and its other end Within the high pressure cylinder intermittently engaged and actuated by the reciprocation of the piston Within the high pressure cylinder for oscillating said reciprocating `distribution valve.

ln testimony whereof We ailix our signatures.

PElROE VAN VLEOK. HOWARD COOPER, 

